Sunday, January 31, 2016

He was affectionately known as ‘Crow’ when he played four years with the B.C. Hockey League Vernon Vipers, serving as captain of the 2009 Royal Bank Cup championship team.

Chris Crowell was one of the fiercest fighters in the league and was the consummate leader and teammate.

He made a major impact as a Viper and his work was rewarded Friday night when his No. 18 jersey was retired and raised to the rafters at Kal Tire Place. He becomes the second player in franchise history to have his jersey taken out of circulation: Rob Short’s No. 20 was the first.

“That was an awesome ceremony, I think Todd (assistant GM Miller) had a lot to do with putting it together,” smiled Crowell. “I was shocked at first. It was way more than I expected. The video was pretty cool and brought back a lot of good memories. I think they had all my goals in the video; it couldn’t have gone any longer because they showed them all. It’s good to come back and see a lot of familiar faces.”

An engineer in Kamloops, Crowell was accompanied by his wife, Bree, and his parents, Richard and Shannon Crowell of Kelowna. His brother, Kevin, was one of the referees Friday. Crow was surprised with the pace of the game.

“It seems everybody is small and quick with good hands and finish, and a lot more skilled than me. I was watching some of the game with (ex-Viper teammate) Bryce Kakoske and we both noticed how fast they all are.”

Crowell said he misses hockey, especially his years in the BCHL with such players as Kevin Kraus, Kellen and Connor Jones, Hunter Bishop, Kyle St. Denis, Braden Pimm, Kyle Bigos Scott Zurevinski and Short.

“Junior hockey was pretty fun time. I don’t think there aren’t many other times in your life where you kind of have a responsibility for two hours of the day and the rest you freewheeled and did whatever you wanted.”

Ferner and Viper owner Duncan Wray presented Crowell a gorgeous framed jersey before the opening face-off. Crowell signed loads of autographs throughout the building.

“He was one of the best captains I’ve coached,” said Ferner, in a stirring video of Crowell’s best moments and interviews produced by Rob Abramenko of KISS-FM. “He was a warrior on the ice and a gentleman off the ice.”

The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder rang up 33 goals and 596 penalty minutes with the Vipers. He delivered thunderous checks and threw heavy punches back in the fighting days of the BCHL. He and Jordan Simpson of the Prince George Spruce Kings ran into one another at Booster Juice prior to one game in Vernon and agreed to scrap seconds after the opening face-off.

Crowell, who turns 28 next week, played NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves, being captain for three of his four years.

Seawolves’ head coach Matt Thomas sent a special tribute read by Abramenko over the public address system: “The University of Alaska-Anchorage would like to congratulate former Seawolve captain Chris Crowell for the remarkable honour: Chris embodied the qualities that make hockey a special sport. His contributions as a player, a student-athlete and most notably a leader continue to influence our program today.”

The buzz in the building seemed to inspire the Vernon Vipers as they rallied for an entertaining 3-2 B.C. Hockey League victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Friday night before 2,402 boisterous fans at Kal Tire Place.

“I think our team does a little bit better when we’re under the gun,” said Viper assistant coach Kevin Kraus. “Last game in Salmon Arm, we lose two forwards after the first period and go out and put up seven in the second. I think when you’re down guys, you just go out there and play hockey. The shifts are short and you keep it simple.”

The Silverbacks, trying to atone for a 10-5 loss two weeks ago at the Shaw Centre in a tilt they were leading 5-1, went ahead 2:17 after the national anthem when call-up Josh Latta sniped his first BCHL goal on a scramble. Assists went to Marcus Mitchell and Jared Turcotte. Latta, 17, leads the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League and the Vancouver NW Giants in points with 53.

D-man Kodi Schwarz, who was talking to college scouts after the game, made it 2-0 just 82 seconds later with a shot from the left hash marks, his fourth of the year, from Turcotte.

The Vipers responded when blueliner Mitchell Oliver’s wrister from the right point beat Angus Redmond with 13 seconds left in a hit to the head penalty to Cam Trott on Charlie Michalowski. Trott was also assessed a misconduct. D-man Darren Rizzolo earned the assist on Oliver’s third of the season.

Vernon levelled the score at 14:24 of the second period when Ben Butcher scored on a sweet wraparound to the right post for his eighth of the season. Liam Finlay, who took first star and the Fortis Energy Player of the Game, and Brett Stapley pocketed the helpers. Butcher’s father, Garth, a former NHLer, was in the building.

Ex-NHLer Joe Sacco was also at Kal Tire Place and watched his son, Joe, bury the winner at 3:31 from the right circle after a nice cross-ice feed by captain Colton McCarthy. It was Sacco’s eighth of the campaign.

“Typical Vernon Vipers start against Salmon Arm tonight which isn’t our biggest asset against this team,” said Kraus. “We battled back and we were able to tie it and eventually get the winner early in the third. I think our team is definitely starting to learn how to win these tight games and good for our team to mature as a group.”

Butcher went into the corners and did the heavy lifting alongside Finlay and Stapley. Butcher has played his best hockey as a Viper since getting sucker-punched by Reed Gunville of the West Kelowna Warriors and breaking his nose at the buzzer in a Jan. 12 game at Royal LePage Place.

“We just talked about keeping it simple, making sure we’re playing within our systems and doing the right things,” said Butcher, a Bellingham product. “We were going hard and everybody chipped in; it was a good effort by the team.

“Pretty unbelievable, on Parents Weekend, being my last year in the league and all, getting the win in front of my dad was pretty special.”

The teams met again Saturday night at the Shaw Centre in front of an expected sellout on Hockey Day in Salmon Arm.

The Silverbacks are third in the Interior Division, two points behind the Warriors, 7-1 winners over the Cowichan Valley Capitals in Duncan. The Vipers hold down the fourth and final playoff berth with 45 points, five ahead of the idle Trail Smoke Eaters. Trail hosted the first-place Penticton Vees Saturday night. Nick Jones compiled 2+1 as the Vees shelled the Smokies 6-1 before 2,367 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

“We’ve got a lot of momentum here. See if we can get the win tomorrow and get another four points (Wednesday night) in PG and keep going from there,” said Butcher.

Salmon Arm left winger Mitch Skapsi, obtained from the Chilliwack Chiefs at the trade deadline, felt the Gorillas deserved a better fate Friday.

“It was a tough one, those 3-2 losses are tough on a team especially when you work hard,” said the 19-year-old Abbotsford product. “It was just one lucky bounce for them and they made it 3-2. It’s so frustrating because we had so many chances and we lose.

“We had a couple of players missing. No excuses. We still need to perform and everybody needs to play their role and hopefully we can win tomorrow’s game.”

Skapsi, who played for Ferner and the Western Hockey League Everett Silvertips as a 16-year-old, said the Silverbacks certainly had the 10-5 debacle on their minds during game preparation.

“We definitely had motivation. They showed us up in our barn and we were trying to do the same to them and it didn’t go in our favour.”

SNAKE BITES: Lack and and his Salmon-Arm based goalie coach, Lyle Mast, sat quietly through the first period, but then were bombarded by fans for photos and autographs after being noticed... Colorado Avalanche Director of Player Development Dave Oliver, of Vernon, was also in the house with his wife and son...Conor Webb of the Vernon Midget Tier 2 Vipers backed up Shortridge with Brendan Barry in sick bay...The Langley Rivermen clipped the Merritt Centennials 4-3 with Vernon product Brett Jewell getting his 11th goal of the year for the Cents...The Snakes have won four straight and were 5-3 in January heading into Saturday night. Vernon visits Merritt Saturday in one of 10 February tilts to finish the regular season. The roadrunner Wenatchee Wild are here Feb. 26.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

For anyone who could not attend or watch tonight’s Vipers game here are my thoughts and views from tonight’s game. You may agree or disagree but we all have our own view and opinion on any game we watch. This is my opinion and my thoughts on how I saw tonight’s game. I try to be unbiased and give a fare recap on both sides. Thanks for stopping by & visiting my blog.

I was at tonight's Vipers-Silverbacks game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 6-1 in front of 1,688 fans at the Shaw Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Andrew Shortridge

Salmon Arm: Angus Redmond

Before tonight's game the Silverbacks honoured the 1982-83 Shuswap Totems Jr A hockey club, Salmon Arm's first Inaugural season in the BCJHL. Former Totems owner, Head Coach & GM were all brought out to centre ice before the start of the game.

1st Period: The Vipers with some good jump off the opening faceoff, would get the play deep into the Salmon Arm zone, would move the puck around, getting some good pressure-zone time in the opening minute but unable to generate or create any scoring chances. The Backs responded with a good push back shift and about a minute and a half into the period the Silverbacks had the Vernon defence reeling inside their own end. SA had Andrew Shortridge scrambling, before a wild goal mouth scramble the Silverbacks somehow couldn't find the back of the net with the Viper goaltender down and out. Salmon Arm with all kinds of pressure early would control the play in the offensive zone before Taro Hirose caught Shortridge looking the other way, tried opening the scoring on a wrap around but couldn't get all the way around the Vernon goal looked to have Shortridge beat but couldn't get the puck around to the front of the net. Nick Hutchison would break in free for the breakaway couldn't beat Andrew Shortridge five minutes into the game. Vernon struggling early were playing most of the first few minutes in their own end. The Vipers would get the games first powerplay but Vernon would struggle, without a single shot SA would kill off the penalty after a very good PK keeping the Vipers to the outside. Just after the penalty expired, just before the halfway mark the Viper defence would get caught again, this time Elijiah Barriga would go in for the breakaway, but again Andrew Shortridge bailed out his defence making another big save. SA outshooting Vernon 8-3 at this point as it was all Silverbacks. Just a few minutes later the Backs would get their first look with the man advantage. Salmon Arm would capitalize just eleven seconds into the PP. Chase Zieky was stopped by Shortridge before Nick Hutchison would bang home his second shot in close giving Salmon Arm a 1-0 lead at 14:11 Zieky & Kodi Schwarz collected the helpers. A few minutes later Vernon product Colton Thibault would get the Silverbacks third breakaway of the period, but again Andrew Shortridge come up with a big stop in close. A few shifts later Ross Heidt blew by his defender went high and over the net, missing the goal on another Backs breakaway. Vernon's defence giving up four breakaways all in the opening period. Nick Hutchison with his second of the period late gave Salmon Arm a 2-0 lead at 18:59 Elijiah Barriga with the assist. Just fourteen seconds later Kodi Schwarz setup Ross Heidt on a two on one gave Salmon Arm a 3-0 lead at 19:13 Schwarz with the lone helper as it was all Silverbacks. The Backs poured on the pressure in the final minute, had the Viper defence back on their heels before the final buzzer. It was 3-0 Salmon Arm after 20 minutes of play. The Backs were in full control, totally dominated the entire opening period other then the first minute and a half. SA carried most of the play, had the Viper defence on their heels most of the 1st. Salmon Arm with four breakaways couldn't solve Andrew Shortridge. The Vipers with no offensive zone time, had very little pressure, had troubles getting out of their own end and getting through the neutral zone. Vernon looked flat, were standing around, losing all the battles, races for the puck, had no jump, energy or emotion were totally outplayed. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 19-5.

2nd Period: Just a few minutes into the middle frame Mac Ferner with a quick shot from the point was stopped by Silverbacks starting goaltender Angus Redmond before Liam Finlay couldn't burry the rebound. Redmond with two big saves early to start the period on the Vipers first and second good opportunities of the game. The Vipers playing with a little more jump/energy looked a little better to start the 2nd. Ben Butcher stopped in close in the opening few minutes couldn't beat Redmond from the slot. SA got off to a bit of a slow start, but slowly got their game going. The Backs for a second straight period took over the edge in play, carried the better of the play from here on in. Jared Turcotte and Nick Hutchison lead the charge on a two on one, Turcotte decided to keep and shoot fired high missing the net on a missed opportunity. Just before the midway mark Angus Redmond come way out of his crease to play the puck, Liam Finlay stole the puck from Redmond who was now caught way out of position fed Ben Butcher who couldn't coral the Finlay pass in front, had a great opportunity to hit the wide open cage on a missed chance by the Vipers. Vernon skating a little better, seemed to play with a little more jump, were able to get some zone time and create-generate a few chances after a dreadful 1st period. Late in the period Steven Jandric and Josh Laframboise dropped the gloves In a very spirited scrap. Both players were tossed from the game. On the following play Ross Heidt with a great individual effort, blew by his defenceman before going upstairs on Vipers starting goaltender Andrew Shortridge giving Salmon Arm a 4-0 lead at 16:08 Jred Turcotte with the assist. Both teams finished the period playing four on four. A long stretch pass inside the final minute the Vipers tried freeing captain Colton McCarthy for the breakaway who couldn't handle the pass. In the dying seconds McCarthy would get tangled up along the end boards with two Salmon Arm players just as the buzzer sounded. Some pushing and shoving occurred as a small scrum unfolded before the referee and linesmen were called in to break up the after the whistle activities. Salmon Arm was up 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers with a good start to the period, were able to get two real good back to back opportunities early. Vernon finally able to get some offensive zone time didn't look too shabby off the drop of the puck. The Vipers would get some good chances this frame but for the most part it was all Silverbacks for a second straight period. The Backs carried the better of the play, didn't get as many scoring opportunities like the 1st but did get a few. Both teams got a little chippy at times this frame with nothing major coming out at the end. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 13-12.

3rd Period: Both teams started the final frame four on four after penalties continuing from the 2nd period. Salmon Arm took a penalty at the end of the 2nd period, giving Vernon an early powerplay to start the 3rd. The Vipers would capitalize and break Angus Redmond's bid for the shutout. Joe Sacco spotted Salmon Arm product Colton McCarthy in front who put home the Vipers first goal of the night, cutting the Salmon Arm lead to 4-1 at 1:37 Sacco and Bo Pellah picked up the assists. A few minutes later the Vipers would get their second man advantage of the period but unable to capitalize. A very good penalty kill by the Backs. Just after the penalty expired Nick Hutchison alone in the slot, ripped a hard high shot just missed the far corner as Salmon Arm come very close to grabbing a 5-1 lead. Shortly after the Vipers would come back with two real good quality chances of their own. Odeen Tufto with a low shot was stopped by Angus Redmond who made a big pad save before stopping "AP" Ryland Chernomaz on the rebound. A few players later Jimmy Lambert with stopped in close as Redmond come up with a few big saves with the Vipers pressing. Vernon scores on one of or both these chances and we have a hockey game. The Vipers don't score/capitalize and Vernon is still down by three with time not on there side. The Vipers finally started skating, played much better, showed signs of jump and energy played their best period of the night. Vernon getting some real good grade a chances were playing well and carried most of the play. The Silverbacks were held in their own end for a lot of the 3rd had just three shots ten minutes into the frame. Four on four Ross Heidt with another solid individual effort gave Salmon Arm a 5-1 lead at 14:47 Damian Chrcek & Cameron Trott collected the assists. This basically put the game away and ended any kind of a Viper comeback. The Backs would take two late back to back penalties but it was the Silverbacks PK who was sharp and looking to strike. "AP" Josh Latta with his second career BCHL goal gave Salmon Arm a 6-1 lead at 18:41 Taro Hirose and Cameron Trott with the assists would round out the scoring. Both teams would wind down the clock before the Silverbacks would take the second game of the home & home series 6-1 winning the season series 5-2. Vernon responded with their best effort of the night, but it was too little, too late. The Vipers scored early to get on the scoreboard, showed signs of life and played with some jump-energy. Vernon carried the better of the play missed on some great chances, needed to capitalize on their opportunities. The Silverbacks with very little pressure and zone time, didn't get many scoring chances. Salmon Arm played a lot of the 3rd in their own end, were up by three goals at one point put the game away with two late goals to end the hockey game. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 12-8.

Top Player's: (Vernon)

Ryland Chernomaz (AP) Mde his Viper debut tonight, I thought was one of if not one of the better Vipers in the loss. Didn't show any signs of nerves, played hard, wasn't afraid to play physical, was involved in the play when the Vipers had the puck-zone time.

Andrew Shortridge (34 saves) Was hung out to dry all night, if it wasn't for the Vipers veteran goaltender this could have easily been 10-1 or higher. Shortridge stopped three out of four breakaways in the 1st period (one missed the net) made some big-key saves in that opening period to stop the bleeding. Salmon Arm could have easily been up 5-0/6-0 if it wasn't for Shortridge. You couldn't blame the 20 yr old netminder on any of the SA goals, did his best to keep his team in the game.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

After a very impressive-big win last night in Vernon to open the home and home series, the Vipers four game winning streak was snapped this evening with the loss. The Vipers didn't show up until the 3rd period and by then it was basically too little too late. The Vipers were outplayed/dominated in the first two periods. Vernon looked flat to start the game and through out the opening frame, weren't skating and were outskated that period. The Vipers didn't get one single scoring chance in the 1st, played most of the period in their own end. The Vipers gave up four breakaways, way too many odd man rushes struggled defensively. The Vernon defence was very soft, made all kinds of mistakes-turnovers were skating in circles. The Vipers showed very little if any jump, energy, emotion or drive in the 1st played a little better in the 2nd but not by much. Vernon responded and come to play in the 3rd, scored an early goal, had some real good quality chances couldn't capitalize. If the Vipers score on one or two of these chances, this is a different game-outcome maybe? This was not the same Viper team that come to play and played hard to earn a 3-2 win last night over these same Silverbacks. A very poor performance-effort. I listened to Kevin Kraus's post game comments on the drive home and couldn't agree more, this team didn't show up, had way too many passengers. Penticton did the Vipers a huge favor, defeating Trail tonight 4-3 to stay five points up on the Smokies for the fourth and final playoff spot. A great turn out of Viper fans-Viper parents at the game tonight.

Top Player's: (Salmon Arm)

Angus Redmond (28 saves) Didn't see much rubber in the opening period, made a few big saves early to start the 2nd come up with his best saves of the night in the 3rd with Vernon pressing. Redmond looked calm, confident and played very well between the pipes.

Cameron Trott (2 assists) Was involved in the play, was solid on the Backs blueline all night. I have really liked Trott's play this season, thought he has played very well against the Vipers most of the season.

Kodi Schwarz (2 assists) Played well in both games this weekend. Picking up two helpers in the victory tonight, had a solid night on the blueline.

Nick Hutchison (2 goals) Returned to the Silverbacks lineup last night after missing twenty plus games with an injury was very good in last night's 3-2 loss in Vernon, had a heck of a game tonight. Scoring twice, Hutchison was again very dangerous all night, involved in the play, always seems to find the open ice, gets loads of great scoring chances, is hard to contain, goes to the net, battles and works hard.

Ross Heidt (3 goals) Another Salmon Arm player who has played very well against Vernon this season. Picking up the hat-trick tonight was all over the rink, gave the Vernon Vipers all kinds of troubles with his speed, strong skating and and skill. Heidt was another kid who was hard to contain, dangerous almost every shift, gave the Vipers defence a lot of trouble.

Game Thought's: (Salmon Arm)

The Silverbacks honoured the 1982-83 Shuswap Totems Jr A hockey club, Salmon Arm's first Inaugural season in the BCJHL by wearing replica Totem jerseys for tonight's game. Mostly all orange with black/white trim-stripes with white numbers outlined in black and black name bars with the old Sushwap Totems logo on the front. The Silverbacks played a hard fought game in Vernon Friday, fell 3-2 to the Vipers snapped a seven game winless streak with a very impressive 6-1 victory tonight, blowing out the Vipers in the final meeting of the regular season. The Backs win the season series going 5-2 if you count the pre-season Salmon Arm went 7-2 vs Vernon this year. SA was by far the better of the two teams, the Silverbacks jumped on the Vipers early and often outplaying and dominating the first two periods. Jumping out to a 4-0 lead basically had the game won. Salmon Arm really used their speed and energy tonight, skated circles around Vernon for most of the night. The Silverbacks picked apart a very soft-weak Vernon defence who was caught standing around most of the night. SA was really flying, working-competing hard and never gave up. The Vipers did carry the better of the play in the 3rd but did Salmon Arm maybe take their foot off the gas a bit? Who knows. The Backs going for that long stretch pass all night, were sent in for four 1st period breakaways couldn't score on any of them. I thought Salmon Arm's defence was very good, took a lot of time and space away from the Viper offence, especially in the first two periods. I really liked the Backs penalty kill, kept Vernon to the outside, limited their shots & chances. Overall a very solid game-performance by SA. A great crowd (standing room only) on Hockey Day in Salmon Arm! One of the biggest crowds for a Vipers-Silverbacks game in many many years.

Vernon (21-23-0-3) @ Salmon Arm (24-14-4-3) 7pmTonight is the sixth of seven regular season meetings between the Vernon Vipers & Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The Silverbacks lead the season series 4-1Last Game:

Since the 2002-03 regular season Salmon Arm has outscored Vernon 335-328

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 21-17-1-6 at home vs. Salmon Arm

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 21-18-2-6 in Salmon Arm

Vernon is 2-7-0-1 in its last 10 regular season visits at the Shaw Centre

Vernon is 5-4-1-0 in its last 10 regular season home games vs Salmon Arm

Vernon is 3-7-0-0 in its last 10 regular season games vs. Salmon Arm

The Vipers last regular season win at home vs Salmon Arm was a 3-2 victory on Friday, January 29th 2016

The Silverbacks last regular season win at Kal Tire Place was a 5-2 victory on Wednesday, December 9th 2015

The Vipers last regular season win at the Shaw Centre was a 7-5 victory on Friday, November 28th 2014

The Silverbacks last regular season win at the Shaw Centre vs Vernon was a 5-1 win on Friday, November 27th 2015

The Vipers went 4-3-1-0 vs Salmon Arm last season

Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:The Vernon Vipers make their third and final regular season visit to the Shaw Centre are coming off a 3-2 win over the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks last night. Tonight is the second game of a home & home series in the final regular season meeting vs the Silverbacks. Tonight is the first game of a three game road trip. For the first time this year the Vipers have won four straight are 6-3-0-1 in their last ten games. The Vipers have won back to back road games have won four of their last six games away from home. Vernon sits 4th in the Interior Division are nine points up on last place Merritt, five points up on 5th place Trail, ten points back of Salmon Arm & sixteen points back West Kelowna for 2nd place.

Odeen Tufto (21-33-54) leads the the team in goals with twenty one and in points with fifty four.

Kevin Kraus was an Assistant Coach with the Silverbacks during the 2013-14 seasonTyrol Deeg spent one season in Salmon Arm as the Silverbacks trainerGraham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Venom Bloghttp://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/Vernon Vipers 2015-16 regular season Stats:

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks return home from a four game road trip where they finished 0-5-2-0 are coming off a 3-2 loss in Vernon Friday. The Silverbacks have won four of the six meetings this season, Including the pre-season Salmon Arm is 6-2 vs the Vipers this year. The Backs have won five of their last seven games over the Vipers going back to last year. Salmon Arm is winless in their last seven games are 2-6-2-0 in their last ten. The Backs have just two wins in their last five home games. The Silverbacks sit 3rd in the Interior Division are four points back of West Kelowna, ten points up on Vernon and fifteen points up on Trail.

Ross Heidt (26-18-44) lead the Silverbacks lead in goals with twenty six, while Taro Hirose (12-45-57) leads the team in points with fifty seven.

Ryley Booth played in 10 games last season with the Vipers before being traded to Salmon Arm on October 28th 2014

Troy Mick played with the Vernon Lakers and was an Assistant Coach-Head Coach & GM with the Vernon Vipers before joining the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

1990 & 1991 Vernon Lakers Inducted Into Okanagan Sports Hall Of Fame

The 1969-70 & 1971-72 Vernon Essos were inducted into the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in November 2014

1999 Vernon Vipers Inducted Into BC Hockey Hall Of Fame

The 1999 Vernon Vipers were inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame In July 2016

On December 2nd 2017 the Vernon Vipers honoured the 1956 Vernon Canadians and former Vernon Esso's legend Wayne Dye. The 1956 Vernon Canadians Allen Cup banner along side Wayne Dye's #8 Legends banner were raised to the rafters at Kal Tire Place

Kal Tire Place-Home to the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

The Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1982 through the vision of Vernon resident and sports enthusiast, Nick Alexis. With the support of Vernon City Council, Alexis and a dedicated group of volunteers created a series of outdoor exhibits celebrating the region’s dynamic sporting history in Vernon’s Cenotaph Park. That same year, the new organization unveiled its first round of inductees to the Hall of Fame. Several years later, in 2001, the Hall of Fame moved its exhibits into the newly constructed Vernon Multiplex now known as Kal Tire Place.

About Me

I first created this blog in November of 2008. This coming season will be my ninth season doing this blog. I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and have been going to Junior Hockey games in Vernon since I was a young child. I purchased my first set of season tickets in 1990
I have had season tickets for the last 26 years, Since 1990 I have missed 42 home games.
In September of 2009 I missed my first home game since 2002-03 wich my streak of 236 straight Vipers home games came to an end. Ive missed just three Vipers home games since the 1998-1999 season.
I worked with the Vipers back in 2003-04 as colour comentator helping out with a few games over the internet. In 2011 I helped deisgn, create and put together the Vipers new website for the 2011-12 season. I ran and updated the Vipers website for five seasons, keeping all staff bios and pictures updated, adding new game photos, doing a game preview on game days, as well as adding any Vipers news, scores or BCHL news through out the season.
Over the years I have travelled to Victoria, Dauphin & Camrose to watch the Vipers in the RBC Cup. I was also at the 1990 Centennial Cup & 2014 RBC Cup in Vernon.